Manual:Infantry Manual:Equipment:Remote Sys

DRS-225 Aerial Surveillance Drone
The DRS-225 Drone is an extremely small, agile sensor platform which can be the most valuable asset of any combat leader. Measuring only 10 centimeters in diameter, the DRS-225‘s fuselage consists of a lightweight polyduranide shell impregnated with barium titanate, a natural element that serves as a large volume capaci-tor. To aid in camouflaging the drone, it is equipped with an electrochromic finish which allows the surface of the drone to actively change its pigmentation and pattern. However, for such a small drone, operating the electrochromic finish does severely limit flight time and sensor performance.

Providing lift and thrust for the DRS-225 are two 68mm magnetically levitated ducted counter-rotating fans mounted in gimbals. At maximum output, the thrust produced propels the drone up to 110 kilometers per hour for up to one hour; but at the normal cruising speed of 10 kilometers per hour the drone can stay aloft from 7 to 10 hours.

The sensor s onboard the DRS-225 are essentially the same as those found in any Marine Corps issued combat tricorder. The drone operates in a passive mode until viable threat targets are located. At that time, the drone switches to a steady active mode, begins communications with other drones and detects, identifies and reports measured signals and sensor data to the controller or base station.

DRS-516 Terrestrial Surveillance Drone
The DRS-516 can be controlled remotely or programmed for a specific method of exploration. The construc-tion of the drone is similar to an arachnid because it has eight legs and a segmented body with two parts. The DRS-516 is used for surface and subsurface surveillance (caves & tunnels) & urban environments.

The eight legs are better described as tentacles as they are designed as artificial muscular hydrostats, which allows the drone to grasp surfaces and move across difficult terrain with ease. The legs are coated in artificial setae and can be actively adapted to forms that allow the drone to adhere to any known service without a physical trace or electromagnetic signature. While it cannot fly, it can make impressive jumps with precision.

The DRS-516 uses the same sensors as the ones found in a combat tricorder. The information is stored on isolinear chips. An internal navigation system maps its course allowing it to retrace its steps or calculate a new course should the return route be unavailable. If capture is eminent, the drone will self-destruct. The self-destruct can also be activated remotely. The resulting explosion is similar to a grenade.

DRS-643 Miniature Aerial Surveillance Drone
Based on the phenomenally successful DRS-225, this drone is a miniaturized version which has half therange and endurance. Due to its smaller size, it can navigate through much tighter locations; and, most importantly, more can be carried by the average marine. It is not uncommon for numerous DRS-643’s to be released by a small unit to cre ate a drone swarm around their location for surveillance purposes and situational awareness.

While the DRS-643 retains all the functionality of the larger DRS-225, the small transceivers can only operate a single system at a time. This means that the drone can be used as either a signal relay or an optical sensor picket, not both simultaneously. Also, the drone has practically no memory storage and therefore cannot be used independently of the controller. While the DRS-643 can operate independently of active control, it does need to have a regular connection to either a mesh network or the controller to be useful.